Great Food, Great History, Great People… Get a Taste of Japan!

If you’re thinking about travelling overseas in the near future (or not so near for that matter!) make sure you don’t bypass Japan in your travels!

Known as The Land of the Rising Sun, Japan is rich in culture and history. Made up of thousands of Islands, Japan’s main islands are Honshu, Hokkaido, Kyushu and Shikoku. It is on these islands you will find Japan’s major cities including Sapporo, Kyoto, Osaka, Kobe, Tokyo, Hiroshima and Kagoshima.

There is a wide range of accommodation available in Japan, most of which is of a very high standard, right through from Youth Hostels to luxury hotels.

If it’s the busy city life of the Japanese you want to experience you can’t beat Tokyo. With a population of approximately 12.369 million (as at 1 October 2003), Tokyo is Japan’s most highly populated prefecture and is full of great places to visit that are rich in entertainment, cultural and historical value. Interesting places to visit are the world famous Ginza – a business and shopping district, Harajuku (the teen capital of Tokyo) and Shinjuku – a large shopping, business and entertainment precinct.
Itsukushima Shrine, Miyajima

In the Tokyo prefecture in Japan there are also several temples and shrines which are of great interest and make great photo opportunities. Your hotel or youth hostel should be able to give you more details on this.
If you want culture then head on down to Kyoto. Kyoto is home to Gion, which is the most prominent Geisha district in Japan. Geisha are women trained to entertain through the Japanese Arts such as singing and dancing – not prostitutes. Kyoto is also home to the famous and beautiful Kinkakuji or Golden Pavillion. If you want an experience that is both cultural and full of wildlife, hop aboard a JR (Japan Rail) train and head to Nara. Nara is about a one hour train ride from Kyoto and features beautiful temples and shrines, shopping and lots of deer!

Another place you can mix culture and history with wildlife is the beautiful Miyajima Island Miyajima is just a short ferry ride from Hiroshima and is definitely worth a full day visit or even an overnight stay. As the forest-covered hills of Miyajima Island (which are a romantic background for the Island’s Itsukushima Shrine) appear dramatically through the swirling mist as your ferry approaches. If you choose to stay overnight soak up more of the romantic atmosphere as residents wander the streets in the traditional Japanese Ukata.

Back in Mainland Hiroshima there’s still plenty to see and do! Why not hit the shops or head to the Hiroshima Peace Park for a trip into the city’s tragic past. But be warned – a tour through the Peace Park can really tug on the heart strings. It tells a sad story of the people of Japan, particularly Hiroshima, and how their world changed after the A-bomb in World War II. Right from the A-Bomb Dome (or what is left of it) and especially the Peace Park Museum, you’re in for an emotional rollercoaster.

Japan is a fantastic country of culture, history, good shopping, great people and delicious food. Don’t plan your next holiday without making a stop in Japan!